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The provocation game

The Mayors of Warsaw and Wrocław have attempted to ban marches commemorating the centenary of Poland regaining its independence organized by patriotic and nationalist organizations - the decisions have now been overturned by the courts. Dorota Kania comments on the original bans on Niezależna.pl

Kania sees these decisions as a provocation designed to tarnish the image of the Polish right and to send a signal abroad that they are extremist and fascist.

The bans on the independence marches in Warsaw and Wrocław are designed to ratchet up tension. It’s a well tried and tested method of ensuring that the media message which goes out is one about ‘fascists’ and ‘troublemakers’. These are provocations so often used in the bad old days of communism. The script that has been prepared by our ‘total opposition’ is clear and transparent.

The bans on the independence marches are designed to ratchet up tension. It’s a well tried method of ensuring that the media message which goes out is one about ‘fascists’ and ‘troublemakers’

Poznań is to host calm, dignified European independence celebrations organized by liberal mayor Jacek Jaśkowiak and attended by such pillars of the establishment as former presidents Lech Wałęsa and Bronisław Komorowski. In Warsaw, Wrocław and other cities where independence marches will take place, liberal opposition friendly media will show an aggressive hateful crowd….

The liberal opposition wants to use these scenes, so that in a few days there is a reaction from abroad condemning Polish fascists. This is why we have to show that the opposition does not want peace. Quite the opposite. It wants to see a spiral of aggression. We need to be aware of that and peacefully and happily celebrate the centenary of our independence.